Abstract

Background and Objectives: Acupuncture has been widely applied on the rehabilitation after stroke by Oriental medicine doctor in Korea. So far it was reported that acupuncture increased cerebral blood supply and stimulated the functional activity of brain nerve cells. In addition, a correlation between activation of specific areas of brain cortices and corresponding acupuncture stimulation at the therapeutic points had been well illustrated. Till now, however, there were few studies which evaluated a correlation between activation of specific areas of brain and frequently-used acupuncture therapy for stroke, such as LI4-LI11 electro-acupuncture (EA) for the paresis after stroke. This study was to evaluate the effect of LI4-LI11 EA on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal volunteers using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). Methods: In the resting state, 99mTc-ECD brain SPECT scans were performed on 10 normal volunteers (8 males, 2 females, mean age 25.6±2.3years; age range from 24 to 31 years). On the other day 7 days after the resting examination, 15 minute electro-acupuncture were applied at LI 4 and LI 11 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after LI4-LI11 EA, the second SPECT images were obtained with the same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of regional cerebral blood flow after LI4-LI11 EA were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by Statistical parametric mapping with a threshold of p = 0.001, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results: EA applied at right LI4-LI11 increased rCBF in right frontopolar area (Brodmann area 10) and left middle frontal area (Brodmann area 46). Interestingly, all the areas showing increased rCBF corresponded to the territories of both anterior cerebral artery. However LI4-11 EA decreased rCBF in left occipital lobe (peristriate area, Brodmann area 19). Conclusion and suggestion: The results demonstrated a correlation between LI4-11 EA and rCBF increase in frontal lobe. It is also suggested that there may be a correlation between LI meridian and the territory of anterior cerebral artery.